Osteopathy Course

Lesson 1 • History and Origins of Osteopathy

Traces osteopathy from Andrew Taylor Still's founding to modern healing practice. Provides historical context that anchors all subsequent clinical reasoning.

Lesson 2 • Core Osteopathic Principles

Defines the four foundational tenets: body unity, self-healing, structure-function relationship, and rational holistic treatment. These principles guide every clinical decision in the course.

Lesson 3 • Osteopathy vs. Conventional Medicine

Compares osteopathic and allopathic frameworks across holistic assessment, treatment, and patient philosophy. Students will identify where the models converge and diverge.

Lesson 1 • Fascial Anatomy and Continuity

Examines fascial layers, planes, and tensional networks throughout the body. Understanding fascia is essential for osteopathic soft-tissue and myofascial techniques.

Lesson 2 • Visceral and Cranial Anatomy

Introduces organ positioning, ligamentous attachments, and cranial bone relationships. Prepares students for visceral and craniosacral techniques in advanced chapters.

Lesson 3 • Surface Anatomy and Palpation Landmarks

Translates anatomical knowledge into surface identification skills. Students will locate key bony, muscular, and soft-tissue landmarks through guided palpation exercises.

Lesson 4 • Neurological Anatomy Essentials

Covers peripheral and autonomic nervous system anatomy relevant to somatic dysfunction. Neurological knowledge underpins reflex-based osteopathic interventions.

Lesson 1 • Integrated TART Diagnostic Model

Synthesizes tissue texture, asymmetry, restriction, and tenderness into a unified diagnostic framework. Students will apply TART systematically to full-body assessments.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Therapeutic Touch

Establishes the biomechanical and neurological basis of palpatory contact. Students will understand how touch quality affects both assessment accuracy and patient response.

Lesson 3 • Tissue Texture Assessment

Trains recognition of acute and chronic tissue texture abnormalities. These findings form the T component of the TART diagnostic model used throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Tenderness and Restriction Mapping

Guides systematic identification of tender points and motion restrictions across body regions. Accurate mapping will direct treatment prioritisation in clinical practice.

Lesson 1 • Spinal Somatic Dysfunction

Covers Fryette's laws and segmental naming conventions for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar dysfunction. Students will diagnose and name spinal dysfunctions using standard notation.

Lesson 2 • Defining Somatic Dysfunction

Establishes the clinical definition, diagnostic criteria, and physiological basis of somatic dysfunction. This concept is the central diagnostic target of osteopathic practice.

Lesson 3 • Viscerosomatic and Somatovisceral Reflexes

Explains bidirectional reflex relationships between organs and somatic structures. Students will identify reflex patterns that expand diagnostic reasoning beyond the musculoskeletal system.

Lesson 4 • Extremity Somatic Dysfunction

Applies somatic dysfunction principles to shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle joints. Students will adapt TART assessment to peripheral joint mechanics.

Lesson 1 • Myofascial Release Techniques

Covers direct and indirect myofascial release approaches for fascial restriction. Students will select technique direction based on tissue response and patient comfort.

Lesson 2 • Muscle Energy Technique Preparation

Introduces the physiological basis of post-isometric relaxation and reciprocal inhibition. This section bridges soft-tissue work to the muscle energy techniques in the next chapter.

Lesson 3 • Soft-Tissue Technique Principles

Establishes biomechanical and physiological rationale for soft-tissue chiropractic manipulation. Students will understand how technique parameters affect therapeutic outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Soft-Tissue Holistic Treatment Planning

Guides sequencing and dosage decisions for soft-tissue interventions within a full holistic treatment session. Students will build structured holistic treatment plans aligned with diagnostic findings.

Lesson 1 • Articulatory Technique Fundamentals

Defines articulatory technique principles, including rhythmic joint mobilisation through range of motion. Students will apply low-velocity, high-repetition mobilisation to spinal and peripheral joints.

Lesson 2 • Muscle Energy Technique Principles

Establishes the diagnostic and holistic treatment framework for MET, including barrier engagement and isometric contraction protocols. Students will apply MET to correct named somatic dysfunctions.

Lesson 3 • MET for the Extremities

Adapts MET principles to shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle dysfunctions. Students will modify technique parameters for peripheral joint anatomy.

Lesson 4 • Combining Articulatory and MET Approaches

Teaches clinical decision-making for sequencing articulatory and MET techniques within a session. Students will develop adaptive holistic treatment strategies based on patient response.

Lesson 1 • HVLA for the Pelvis and Extremities

Applies thrust techniques to sacroiliac, pubic, and peripheral joint dysfunctions. Students will adapt force vectors and patient positioning for non-spinal joints.

Lesson 2 • Counterstrain Technique

Teaches Jones counterstrain: identifying tender points, positioning to ease, and holding for release. Students will apply counterstrain as an indirect alternative when HVLA is contraindicated.

Lesson 3 • HVLA for the Cervical Spine

Teaches positioning, localisation, and thrust delivery for cervical somatic dysfunction. Students will practise on models before supervised patient application.

Lesson 4 • HVLA for the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine

Covers supine, prone, and seated HVLA procedures for thoracic and lumbar dysfunctions. Students will select operator position based on dysfunction type and patient tolerance.

Lesson 1 • Visceral Chiropractic Manipulation Techniques

Applies direct and indirect visceral techniques to abdominal and thoracic organs. Students will integrate visceral findings with somatic holistic assessment for comprehensive holistic treatment planning.

Lesson 2 • Craniosacral Concept and Rhythm

Explains the primary respiratory mechanism, craniosacral rhythm, and its clinical significance. Students will palpate craniosacral motion as a diagnostic and holistic treatment tool.

Lesson 3 • Cranial Bone Techniques

Covers sphenobasilar synchondrosis patterns and cranial bone decompression techniques. Students will apply gentle compressive and decompressive holds to cranial structures.

Lesson 4 • Visceral Mobility and Motility

Distinguishes visceral mobility (extrinsic movement) from motility (intrinsic rhythm) and teaches palpation of both. These concepts underpin all visceral chiropractic manipulation techniques.